112 Years Later, an Electric Aircraft Reflies America's First Commercial Passenger Route: ALIA CX300 Crosses Tampa Bay in DOT Pilot Milestone
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced on October 30 another major milestone in its Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) Integration Pilot Program (eIPP): Florida completed its first demonstration flights under the program, becoming the seventh location to launch. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) conducted the flights with Joby Aviation and BETA Technologies, testing cargo deliveries and routes over the Tampa Bay area in a recreation of the world's first scheduled passenger airline service, which began over Tampa Bay in 1914. DOT said the flights are the latest step in implementing President Trump's Unleashing Drone Dominance executive order.
Two flight series made up the demonstration. BETA Technologies' ALIA CX300, an all-electric conventional takeoff and landing (eCTOL) aircraft, flew from St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport to Tampa, replicating the first-ever passenger flight of 1914. Joby conducted test flights with its S4 electric eVTOL aircraft from Albert Whitted Airport to Tampa International Airport and at the SunTrax testing facility. In November, FDOT and Electra will conduct further flight tests at several locations across central Florida, and FDOT and other eIPP participants plan additional test flights through the rest of the year.
"Tampa Bay helped make the dream of flying a reality 112 years ago with the first-ever passenger flight. Now thanks to President Trump, the next quantum leap in aviation is happening," said Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy, adding that the United States is integrating the new aircraft into its skies safely to transform how people and products move. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said each pilot flight provides crucial data and lessons that will help establish safety standards for everyday operations. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis called the morning's flights Florida's first Advanced Air Mobility electric aircraft demonstrations, making history in Tampa Bay, and Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue said the state is paving the way for the future of flying cars.
BETA Technologies founder and chief executive Kyle Clark said the company earlier this year flew high-cadence operations along the I-4 corridor with Republic Airways — up to nine legs a day, with energy costs under $17 per leg. Joby Aviation founder and CEO JoeBen Bevirt noted that Tony Jannus launched commercial aviation by flying across Tampa Bay 112 years ago, and that Joby had returned to its birthplace to demonstrate an electric vertical-takeoff aircraft.
Secretary Duffy unveiled the eIPP in March. Its eight selected projects span 28 states and partner with manufacturers, operators and state partners to test urban air taxi services, regional passenger transportation including short takeoff and landing aircraft, cargo and logistics networks, emergency medical response, autonomous flight and offshore and energy-sector transportation. From July to October, projects in Pennsylvania, Utah, Louisiana, Texas, North Carolina and New Mexico tested organ medical transport, cargo delivery and regional air taxi flights. Last year DOT and the FAA also launched the nation's first advanced air mobility (AAM) strategy, with an action plan of 40 recommendations; the FAA may use data from the pilot projects to develop regulations enabling the technology safely at scale.
Related: DOT Announces New Mexico Completes First Demonstration Flight of the eVTOL Integration Pilot Program
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：BETA Technologies 的 ALIA CX300 电动飞机飞行中（资料图，机型与本次重飞航线的 CX300 相同）。ZLEA 摄，CC BY-SA 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: A BETA Technologies ALIA CX300 electric aircraft in flight (file photo, same model as the CX300 that recreated the route). Photo by ZLEA, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
